Valve and alarm.



Nol 693,320. F. GRAY.

VALVE AND ALARM.4 (Apxieacion mea .my 13, 1899.)

ma' Model.) 2 sham-'sheet l.

'No.*693,320. Patented Feb. Il, |902.

F. GRAY. VALVE AND ALARM.

(Application filed Jul 13 1899 (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.`

I lill' @l r A. IHQIIMHH i is blown, when there is first a fall in'pressure UNTTED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE.y

FRANK GRAY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VALVE AND ALARM.

SPECTFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 693,320, dated February 11, 1902.

Application filed July 13, 1899.

To LZZ whom it may concern: f

Be it known that I, FRANK GRAY, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvementin Valves and Alarms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for sounding emergency alarms in automatic fire-extinguishing systems and also to improvements in the valve apparatus and alarm mechanism employed for such purposes.

In sprinkler systems, whether wet or dry, it is desirable to sound an alarm whenever fuses are blown out and to keep this alarm going continuously until the emergency is passed.` Itisalsoimportantthatanyattempt to tamper with the main valve controlling the fluid-supply for the purpose of rendering the system inoperative should be immediately signaled by the sounding of a persistent alarm and that the means controlling this alarm should be of such nature that they cannot be operatively disconnected except at the point where the Aalarm is to be sounded, any attempt to this end precautionary to tampering with the valve only resulting in the sounding of the alarm. The vehicle that I employ for transmitting to the signaling apparatus the actuating effect of the original causation is the fluid-pressure in the pipes of the system beyond the main valve.

In dry-pressure systems abody of airis confined in the sprinkling-pipes above the main valve and held against the pressure of the water by a supplementary or differential check-valve. This body4 of air is 'under less pressure than the water-pressure until a plug and then the water rushing in at once materially increasing the pressure in the pipes. Therefore to sound an alarm indicating that the sprinkling system is in active operation the alarm apparatus must be held out of action by the normal or static pressure, but caused to sound by a rising pressure; but if the main valve is closed, cutting oft` the Water-supply, anda fire started the first fuse that melts will release the compression on the air,and there will be a fall in pressure to which the alarm mechanism must also be susceptiblc. lf, then, the valve is closed and a Serial No. 723,671. (No model.)

fuse opened with the idea that the alarm will be cut out, the effect will only be to accelerate the time of its sounding. If a fuse is opened before the valve is closed, the water will rush in and the alarm sound, and al- In Wet pipe systems the Water is held in the pipes beyond the main valve normally at its highest pressure or a pressure effective for immediate operation, and t-he first effect of blowing a fuse, or cutting a pipe, or opening a drain is to lower the pressure. Therefore the alarm must be such and so connected that the slightest reduction in pressure from this normal will cause it to sound; but wet systems are often-changed to dry and dry to wet without change in the installation, or at l' least without material change.` Henceit is still of consequence that the alarm mechanism should be instantly operative whether the pressure is reduced or'increased.

, The object of the invention is therefore, primarily, to provide for the sounding of an alarm upon anyl variation of pressure in the pipes beyond the main cut-off valve opening from the supply-pipe, whether that variation n be rising or falling; secondly, to guard against eective tampering by causing the continuous sounding of an alarm by either increase or decrease of pressure consequent upon such an attempt from the closing of the main valve until said valve is again fully opened; thirdly, to make the sounding of such alarm concurrent with the incipient closing movement of the main Valve; fourthly, to so construct the alarm-gage that it will be operated in either a wet or a dry systemtand by either a decrease or an increase of pressure,A

and, fifthly, to secure ease and sensitiveness of operation in the alarm-gage.

Various other objects of the invention will' appear from the `ensuing description when read in the light of the accompanying draw= ings, in which- IOO la-I

Figure lis an elevation of a wet pipe automatic fire-extinguishing system embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the main-valve casing on the line 2 2 ot Fig. l, showing the valve in the incipiency of its closing movement and communication established with a pipe leading to a pressuregage alarm. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the irregular line 3 3 of Fig. 2, the valve being closed. Fig. et is a front elevation, partly broken away, of the pressure gage alarm and accessory devices. Fig. 5 is a transverse section enlarged through the gagebox on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4; and Figs. 6 and 7 are details.

A represents the supply-pipe of an automatic fire-extinguishing system; A, the riserpipe leading upward therefrom; A2, the mainvalve casing between the two, and A3 horizontal sprinkler-pipes reaching outward from the riser-pipe, and having fuses a,which blow with an abnormal rise in temperature. From the distributing-pipes,7 in which term may be included everything above the main valve-as the valve-chamber, the riser, and the sprinkler pipes--a pressure or alarm pipe (one or more) is led to a distant station, where it connects with a pressure-gage controlling the switching or throwing device of alarm apparatus in such manner that at the normal or static pressure of the distributing-pipes or that member thereof from which the alarmpipe is led, which is the pressure in the alarmpipe, the switch will be retained, as it were, open and no alarm will be, sounded, but with either an increase or a reduction of pressure the switch will be closed and the alarm set in operatiom whatever its nature.

Preferably I employ an electrical alarm (designated generallyat B) operated by a dry battery, and that which I have devised and propose to use for this purpose is as follows: To a supporting-board C is secured the box or casing C of a pressure-gage, which, except in the features hereinafterdistinguisl1ed,may be of ordinary construction. A coupling C2 affords means for connecting the gage to the alarm-pipe, whereby its pointer C3 may indicate the pressure therein. N ow if thepointer were permanently connected with one pole of the battery of an electric alarm and two contacts connected with the other pole were located one on each side of the dial-mark indicating the static pressure in the alarm-pipe of distributing-pipes-say sixty pounds for wet pressure or thirty pounds for dry it is evident that with either an increase or a decrease of pressure the pointer would act as a circuit-closer and cause the alarm to sound; but as the static pressure adopted is determined by exigencies and may be greater or less than the figures suggested and as the alarm is intended to be used with wet and dry systems indiscriminately, these contacts would have to be capable of adjustment, so as to be shifted according t'o the Vpressure determined. It is simpler, however, and more advantageous, instead of making the pointer itself' the circuit-closer, to place a fixed contact upon the dial D and arrange a doublecontact circuit-closer movable with and adjustable relatively to the pointer to coperate with said fixed contact. Advisably such circuit-closer is a disk E, mounted upon and adjustable around the insulated contact-post E', which forms a continuation of the gagespindle E2 and also carries the pointer. The disk has a gap ein one side, with opposing beveled or knife edges e and c2, and, being fitted over the reduced upperend of the contactpost by its central bore c3, is clamped by means of the binding-nut E3 with its gap in any requisite radial position. The fixed contact is herein shown as composed of two opposing springs F and F2, electrically connected with the dial D by means of their supporting-bracket F3 and extending inward toward the circuit-closer, so that their counter-setting contact-pinsf and may meet in the gap on a plane connecting the knife-edges of said closer. Thus any movement of the closer to right or left with the pointer will force one or the other knife-edge between said contactpins, establishing electrical connection, and if the movement is continued the connection will also continue, as pins will ride upon the plane surface of the closer-disk, extending around from one side ot the gap to the other. The operation will be the same, though not entirely so permanently reliable, if one oit' the springs of the fixed contact is dispensed with.

G and G represent the cells of a dry battery mounted upon the supporting-board. The positive pole of cell G is connected by lead h with the insulated binding-post I-I, set through the wall of the gage-box, and thence by spring-contact Il' with the insulated contact-post of the gage-spindle, and through this to the circuit-closer. The dial D issupported upon insulating-posts J, and the negative pole of cell G is connected with said dial by lead 7c and insulated binding-post K, also set through the wall of the gage-box.

L is an alarm-bell connected in series with the batterycells on the other side of the circuit.

In order to set the alarm ready for action, the pressure is first established and then the circuit-closer is adjusted to center its gap upon the fixed contact while the pointer is indicating such pressure. Thereafter any change in pressure, whether up or down, and however caused, will bring one or the other knife-edge against the fixed contact, close the circuit, and sound the alarm.

By forming the circuit-closer as a gapped disk and mounting it upon and adjusting it around the spindle which carries the pointer, so as to revolve with said pointer, or, in other words, bringing it close to the axis of movement of the pointer, a long contact-surface is secured in small space, and adverse lever- IOO IIO

wilful disturbance of the main valve, M isV a relief-pipe leading from the valve-casing A2 and connecting with the chamber therein above the valve. Communication may be established between this relief-pipe and the mainA drain-pipeM by means of a branch pipe m and-stop-cock m' at a point beneath land removed from the main valve and its point of manual operation, so that it may be drained when necessary. It may also have a valved Vstub m2, for packingin an independent pressure. rlhe reliefpipe may terminate in an alarm mechanism B of the nature of that above described .and located at a distant station.

N is the main valve, formed `as a slide-valv and controlled by thescrew rod or spindle N' and hand-wheel N2, which may work in con- 'nectionwith an indicator n to show the po- ,closes the port totherelief-pipe so long as` the main valve is fully open, but which, byA

-means ofa lengthwise groove na'or other suitable channel, establishes communication between the valve-chamber and said `relief-pipe the instant the closing movement of the main valve commences and maintains it until such time as the main valve is again opened.- Thus so long as the main valve is fully open the relief-pipe, with its alarm B', is cut off from the distributing# pipes; but coincidentally with any attempt to closethe `main valve it is opened to said distributing-pipes and their pressure-load. If now the relief-pipe is empty or without a pressure-charge or packed with a pressure of less weight Vthan that normally in the distributing-pipes while cut off from the latter, the opening of the relief-valve will cause an excess of pressure in the relief-pipe and a decrease of pressure in the distributing-pipes, sounding the alarm of the one by a rising pressure and ofthe other by a falling pressure. It results from this arrangement that Vboth alarm B and alarm B will be sounded in case of tampering with the main valve; but the alarm or'alarms B only will sound in case ofthe blowing of a fuse,th'us locating the emergency.

It is to be noted that although the reliefpipe may be left without a load when cut oft from the distributing-pipes and the alarm 4will nevertheless sound: with the movement of the pointer from zero whenever the com` munication is opened by the movement of the mainV valve, yet it is desirablethat saidpipe should bev normally packed with a pressure somewhat exceeding that of the atmosphere, but-below that inthe distributing-pipes, so that should the pipe be cut with-the intention of isolating the alarm the effect will be, on the contrary, to sound the alarmv by reducing the pressure. f l

Having thus described lmy invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is-

l. In a pressure system, the combination with the distributing-pipes and main valve, of a relief-pipe closed off so long as the main valve is fully open, pressure-controlled alarm f mechanism to which said relief-pipe leads, and means actuated in the closing movement of the main valve whereby said relief-'pipe is opened to the' pressure of the system;

2.31m a pressure system, the combination with the distributing-pipes and main Valve, of a reliefpipe closed off so long as the main valve is fully open, alarm mechanism operated both by arise anda fall in pressure, toY which'said relief-pipe leads, means whereby said, pipe'is packed with' a pressure 5above zero but less than the pressure of the system,

and means actuated in the closing movement of the main valve'whereby said relief-pipe is y,

IOO

opened to the pressure ofthe system. 3. In 'a pressure system, the combination' with the distributing-pipes and mainvalve,d

of `avreliefpipe closed off so long as the main' valve is fully open, pressure-controlled alarm' mechanism at all times in connection lwithY said pipes-to beoperated by variationofpres; sure therein, pressure-controlled alarm'mechL anism to which said relief -pipe leads, and

means operated in theclosing movement ofl the main valvev whereby `said relief pipe is opened tothe pressure'of thesystem.

4;In a pressure system, the combination with the distributing-pipes,and main Valve,- of alarm' mechanism pipe-connected with said distributing pipes `'and operated by'either" rise or' fall of pressure, anda reliefvalvev opened in'the incipient closing movementof the main valve.

5. In an electric alarm, the combination of a stationary contact connected to the other side of the circuit.

7. In an electric alarm, the combination of a pressure-gage, an alarm-circuit, a gapped contact-disk mounted upon and adjustable around the spindle which carries the pointer, and having knife-edges each side of the gap, a stationary contact consisting of two opposing springs with counteusetting contact-points mounted on a fixed part of the gage, and leads connecting the disk with one side of the circuit and the stationary contact with the other side.

8. In an electric alarm, the combination of a pressure-gage, the insulated contactpost forming an extension of its spindie,the gapped contact-disk ad.) nstable therearo und and in oving therewith, the connecting-spring resting on said post, and the stationary contact secured to a fixed part of the gage.,

9. In an electric alarm the combination, of a pressure-gage, an alarm-circuit, a rotatable post connected with the spindle of the gage and insulated therefrom, this post carrying a pointer and also a double-contact device adjustable bodily around the post, means conetantly connecting the post with one side of the circuit, a stationary contact connected to thc other side of the circuit, whereby the circuit Will be closed by the double-contact dcvice upon a movement of the gage-spindle in either direction.

l0, In an electric alarm, the combination of a pressure-gage, an alarm-circuit, a doublecontact device mounted on the gage-spindle and bodily adjustable independently thereof and the gage-pointer, means connecting this double contact with one'side of the circuit, and an opposing contact connected to thc other side of the circuit and adapted to close the circuit upon a movement of the gage-Spindie in either direction.

Signed by me at Chicago, Cook county, Iliinois, this (5th day of July, 1899.

- FRANK GRAY. iVitnesses:

Guns. C. BULKLEY, L. M. BULKLEY. 

